According to the media monitoring reports produced within the Reporting Diversity Network 2.0 project, three categories were identified as the main target of hate speech: ethnicity, gender identity and sexuality. These three categories which were the result of monitoring 465 single incidents across the region, make up more than fifty percent of cases (53,13%).

Within the Western Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), research has highlighted that racism, sexism, misogyny, nationalism and intolerance to different political, sexual or national identities are still present and still very strong.

Ethnicity is the most problematic category, according to the research findings. Instances of hate speech targeting ethnicity were often tied to the war in the 90s, incidents against migrants and refugees, and the current political situation.

The impact of the wars in the 1990s is most clearly seen in the cases detected in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The cases shows that the target are the so-called constituent nations (Serbs, Bosniaks, Croats), but also the victims of the Srebrenica genocide and in some cases the Roma or Jewish communities as well. The denial of the Srebrenica genocide, for example, happens not just in Bosnia, but also in Serbia. The legacy of 1990’s wars, more generally, still humpers the inter-ethnic relations in the region.

The second most commonly targeted identity is gender. Sexism (mostly targeted towards women) and misogyny are the most common forms of hate speech. What we could see in different cases identified in the region, is that the failure to meet social expectations often serves as a basis for targeting, as some authors (Barratt) call it: femininity-as-fail.

One tendency that is potentially more dangerous than others that are related to gender-based hate speech is the narrative that is created around gender-based violence cases that receive more publicity. Namely, the regional analysis showed that gender-based violence is often accompanied by a narrative that justifies violence and generates hate speech.

The third most commonly targeted group in the region was the one of sexual minorities including predominantly the LGBTQ+ community. The main triggers of incidents which were detected in the period of research, are mostly connected to initiatives which are trying to improve the rights of LGBTIQ community in the region.

Based on RDN 2.0’s monitoring period, six national reports have been created focusing on specific instances and general trends and patterns of hate speech within the Western Balkan region. The data for all six reports were collected in the period of January 2021 – April 2022 whereby, different cases of hate speech were identified through monitoring of both traditional media as well as social media posts related to different identities and groups in the society (such as gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual minorities, and migrants/refugees).

The researchers in all six countries followed a standardised methodology to provide a harmonized overview of specific instances of hate speech either reported or distributed by the media. This provided both a quantitative approach in detecting the frequency of incidents as well as qualitative analysis including narrative analysis, sentiment analysis and visibility analysis to provide an in-depth understanding of the narratives in each of the Western Balkan countries.

Based on the collected data and research, it has become clear that there is a strong promotion of the division between ‘us’ and ‘them’ which has become a tool of maintaining the status quo or, in some cases, securing the political advantage of certain groups in the society. Hate speech has been used and abused as a political tool in public debates and the political arena.

To learn more about hate speech narratives in the region see country reports:

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT: A REGIONAL OVERVIEW

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN ALBANIA  

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN KOSOVO

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN MONTENEGRO

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN NORTH MACEDONIA

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT ON HATE SPEECH IN SERBIA

Serbia’s Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) has recently concluded the process of awarding four national FTA TV licences. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) previously criticised the process around this decision, which lacked transparency and did not comply with international media freedom standards. The decision taken by REM to award the available national TV licences to the same four pro-government outlets has perpetuated a deeply unbalanced commercial broadcast media market and is another example of the authority’s failure to protect media diversity and pluralism in Serbia.

In its decision published on 29 July 2022, the REM awarded TV licences to Pink, Happy, B92 and Prva televisions – media all supportive of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. On 5 August, the REM published a summary explanation of its decision, affirming that it was made to achieve a greater quality and diversity of content and through a comparative quality analysis of their fulfilment of criteria to award the licences.  However, all four outlets have been repeatedly criticised by civil society for their lack of respect for a variety of national laws and regulations, and for spreading hate speech and smearing political opponents to the current government. According to data from Serbia’s Coalition for Media Freedom, “in 2020 alone, over 12,000 violations of the Advertising Act were committed by these four television stations, and several reports were filed for hate speech and broadcasting of violence”.

Furthermore, the REM’s process of awarding TV licences failed to meet the requirements set under its own guidelines on the minimum conditions for the provision of media services. These include that licences should be awarded to broadcasters that respect the programming parameters for broadcasting licences and should be distributed in a manner that favours the provision of a plurality and diversity of views and ideas. The REM’s decision is yet another worrying indication of its lack of functional independence from political forces and another major failure of its regulatory responsibilities, one which further undermines media pluralism and democracy in Serbia.

International standards on freedom of expression prescribe media diversity and a fair and transparent process for awarding TV licences. As set out by the Principles on Freedom of Expression and Broadcast Regulation, promoting diversity in broadcasting services “implies pluralism of broadcasting organisations, of ownership of those organisations, and of voices, viewpoints and languages within broadcast programming as a whole. In particular, diversity implies the existence of a wide range of independent broadcasters and programming that represents and reflects society as a whole.” (Principle 3). Furthermore, “licence applications should be assessed according to clear criteria set out in advance in legal form (laws or regulations)”, which must be respected during the decision making process (Principle 21).

Two national organisations, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and CRTA, have announced their intention to file a lawsuit against REM before the Administrative Court in accordance with the Law on Administrative Disputes and on the basis that the awarding process of TV licences violated the relevant laws and regulations. Such legal action is intended to push the REM to issue TV licences on the basis of the parameters set out by its own guidelines and by national law.

The REM also announced that a fifth TV licence might be awarded later in the autumn. There is speculation that this delay could be intended to favour Hungary’s TV2, which is owned by a key ally to the ruling Fidesz party of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, to enter the Serbian market. Research conducted by the International Press Institute has shown how Hungarian business interests allied to the government have increasingly been investing in media across the Balkans which are aligned with Fidesz’s political allies, including in Hungarian language media in Serbia.

The MFRR and NUNS stress the impact that REM’s problematic licensing decision will have over media freedom and independence in the country and over Serbia’s citizens’ right to receive diversity of information from a plurality of media. We call for REM to review its decision and comply with national rules and regulations in the allocation of TV frequencies. We urge the Administrative Court to provide a swift response to any legal action taken as a result of this process, in full compliance with international freedom of expression standards. Finally, we stress the need for a comprehensive reform of the REM’s composition to ensure its independence from political interference and its functionality.

Signed by:

ARTICLE 19 Europe

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Free Press Unlimited

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Yesterday, REM (Regulatory authority for electronic media) published a short explanation regarding the decision to re-assign national coverage licenses to Pink, Happy, Prva and B92 televisions. The Council of REM came to the conclusion that these broadcasters “will, to a greater extent than other applicants, justify the existence of multiple benefits for viewers in the territory of the entire Republic, primarily through an objective and timely approach to the transmission of information”, it is stated on the website of REM.

REM’s decision, although expected, is certainly worrisome, given the opportunity for the Council to change course and show at least some responsibility in performing tasks within its competences.

It is disappointing that the level of failure to implement the law is so high that it seems that the Council and REM have almost made their existence meaningless, given the decisions they make and the numerous failures to act.

The oversight of not taking into account the numerous violations, the warnings and punishments of the broadcasters to whom the frequencies were reassigned, speaks not only of the lack of quality and ignorance, but also of the clear influence of other parties on their decisions.

Also, it seems that the members of the Council do not think about their own responsibility for the decisions in which they participate, so considering their far-reaching negative consequences, in this sense, one should think about considering the individual responsibility for such actions carried by the membership of the REM Council. To make the paradox even bigger, numerous irregularities were determined precisely by the expert services of REM, and the Council simply skipped over all of it.

REM only apparently showed that it was acting in accordance with the procedures, and it is clear that the competition essentially represented some kind of deception and an attempt to show that it was acting openly and according to the law, and essentially it was shown that it is fine to break the laws and that for that you can be adequately rewarded.

The Coalition for Media Freedom consists of the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of the Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press” and the Slavko Curuvija Foundation.

August 6, 2022

The head of Radio Gorazhdevci, Milic Petrovic, was verbally threatened today by the son of the employee of the local police station Momir Bulatović.

As stated in the announcement of the media, the threats came after an article was published about the suspension of D.B, for abuse of office by collecting signatures for the removal of a colleague of Albanian nationality.

“You will grit your teeth if you do not withdraw the contentious text”, said Bulatovic.

The police accompanied Bulatovic to the station, and also took the journalist’s statement.

AJK condemns the threat that directly affects the safety of journalists and calls on the law enforcement authorities to treat this case as a priority.

At today’s session, which was closed to the public, the Council of REM (Regulatory authority for electronic media) decided by secret vote to re-grant licenses for electronic media with national coverage to Pink, Happy, B92 and Prva televisions, regardless of the fact that they have been violating the laws, the Code of Journalists of Serbia for years and did not comply with the minimum conditions prescribed by the by-laws. At the same meeting, it was decided to call for a tender for the fifth license. 

REM’s reports from year to year show that none of these television stations fulfilled the obligation prescribed by the Rulebook on the minimum conditions for the provision of media services and criteria for decision-making in the process of issuing a license for the provision of media services based on a public tender, according to which it is defined that the provider of general media services must have informative, scientific-educational, cultural-artistic, documentary and children’s programs, as well as a program for minors. Also, none of these televisions respected the elaboration on the basis of which they were previously licensed.

In 2020 alone, over 12 000 violations of the Advertising Act were committed by these four television stations, and several reports were filed for hate speech and broadcasting of violence. However, none of that seems to have been factored into the decision.

Nor were the decision-making criteria prescribed by the Rulebook taken into account, according to which REM had to, among other things, assess “whether the applicant complies with the regulations and professional and ethical media standards” and “to what extent the applicant complied with the program elaboration based on which it was issued a permit”. It is clear that REM violated these provisions, which was to some extent expected, given that REM Council President Olivera Zekic said earlier that it was a new competition where everyone has the same starting positions.

The Coalition for Media Freedom considers this use of public property an insult to common sense because it shows the selective application of laws and rules, i.e. that the rules do not apply to privileged media in the service of the ruling regime. REM’s decision that Pink, Happy, B92 and Prva televisions get their licenses again is an announcement of the further collapse of the media scene in Serbia, which will contribute to further cultural and any other deterioration of the entire society. Instead of media pluralism, we got a continuation of media darkness. 

Association of Media

Association of Online Media (AOM)

Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV)

Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (NUNS)

Business Association of the Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press” 

Slavko Curuvija Foundation